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Roseanna Cunningham recently hosted an exhibition at the Scottish Parliament by a theatre company from her constituency, Tricky Hat Productions.

Tricky Hat is a multimedia theatre & arts company that is working with Forensic Psychiatry patients based in Perth’s Murray Royal Hospital and their carers on a project called “The Spaces Between”. The project is funded by NHS Tayside and Creative Scotland (Criminal Justice strand).

Tricky Hat’s vision is that people who live on the margins of society can find a creative and credible voice through participation in high-quality, collaborative, cross-arts events alongside high-calibre artists. The company has particular expertise in working with older people, people with mental health problems and forensic psychiatry patients. Tricky Hat trains artists to work with patients. Their work relates to understanding backstories, and helping carers relate afresh to their loved ones. They also hope to change the public perception of people with mental health problems.

Tricky Hat Productions are currently In Residence at the Rohallion Secure Care Clinic, a new facility in the grounds of Murray Royal Hospital. Working with people that are identified as “hard to reach”, they collaborate with various agencies to create theatre and digital installations with the aim of making the invisible, visible.

One such digital installation formed a recent exhibition at The Scottish Parliament, sponsored by Roseanna. It allows MSPs to view and listen to excerpts from a digital film called “The Spaces Between”. At a recent reception at the Parliament, hosted by Annabelle Ewing MSP, members enjoyed a play performed by patients of the Murray Royal, called “The Caretaker”, a full showing of the digital film (“The Spaces Between”) and music from patients and professional musicians.